PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a 19-year-old cyber fraud accused from Jaipur, Rajasthan, for cheating an 80-year-old retired IFFCO officer of Rs 20 lakh on Sunday. The arrest was made by the Cyber Police Station of Kumaon Range, Rudrapur.
The accused kept the elderly victim under digital arrest for three days through WhatsApp video calls by posing as officials of the Delhi Crime Branch and CBI.
According to the police, the fraudsters told the victim that his Aadhaar card was misused and crores of rupees were transferred through a bank account opened in his name. They also threatened him with a money laundering case and legal action. Out of fear, the victim transferred Rs 20 lakh from his bank account to an ICICI Bank account, from where the money was moved to several other accounts and withdrawn.
After investigating bank records, mobile numbers and digital evidence, the STF team traced the accused in Jaipur and arrested him. An Smart Phone, SIM card, Aadhaar card, PAN card and bank documents were recovered from him.
Police said several similar complaints are registered against the accused in other states. The STF has advised people not to trust unknown video calls and warned that no government agency arrests anyone online. Citizens have been asked to report cyber fraud immediately by calling 1930 or through the cybercrime portal.
